Six months until 40 and I am starting this year with the biggest monkey on my shoulder – perimenopause.
Perimenopause has been the guest I never invited but can’t seem to get rid of. One day, I’m cruising through life feeling like I’ve got a handle on things, and the next, I wake up covered in sweat at 2 a.m., crying because I just cant get comfortable on the couch, and questioning if my jeans shrunk in the wash—or if my body’s just going rogue again. Spoiler alert: it’s the latter.
This phase of life is like living in a body you don’t recognize. Suddenly, things don’t work the way they used to. Energy levels? Gone. Sleep? What’s that? And the weight I used to shed with a little extra effort? Yeah, it’s here to stay.
When Comfort Feels Like a Memory
I’ll be honest: I’ve felt super uncomfortable in my body lately. Like, “avoid all mirrors and photos at social events” uncomfortable. I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way. But perimenopause had other plans. The bloating, the mood swings, the itching – (yes, even my skin feels like it’s on edge these days)
And yet, the more I talk to other women, the more I realize I’m not alone. We’re all feeling it—this weird, unspoken pressure to just deal with it and not complain. But you know what? Screw that. We need to talk about this.
Small Steps Toward Feeling Good Again
The truth is, I don’t have it all figured out. But I’m learning that finding comfort in my own skin again isn’t about a big transformation. It’s about the small, sustainable changes that remind me my body isn’t broken—it’s just evolving.
So here is my plan:
- The Pause Strong Challenge: I’ve started following The Pause Life on Facebook and Instagram, joining their 28-day reset challenge designed for women like us.
- Getting Moving: Back to the gym with a focus on strength training, plus more walks in the afternoons and weekends.
- Eating for Energy: Foods that fuel me—leafy greens, protein, and yes, chocolate, because balance.
- Talking About It: Sharing my struggles here and with friends is helping me feel less alone.
Rewriting the Narrative
If you’re reading this and feeling the same way, I want you to know one thing: this discomfort doesn’t define us. It’s just a phase—a messy, complicated, sweaty phase. But we’re more than the numbers on the scale or the hot flashes that ambush us mid-meeting.
This is our time to rewrite the narrative. To find joy in small victories, to celebrate the bodies that carry us through life, and to support each other through the chaos.
Let’s make a pact: no more hiding. No more feeling ashamed of the changes we’re going through. Instead, let’s talk, share, and laugh about them. Because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that we’re stronger when we face these challenges together.
So, tell me—what’s been your biggest struggle with perimenopause? And what’s one small thing you’ve done to feel like yourself again? Let’s keep this conversation going and make this phase of life one we can embrace—even if it’s just a little.
Let’s share what’s working, what’s hard, and what’s downright hilarious about this phase of life. Together, we’ve got this!
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